New Year! Old Games in new Packages! This time around we are in for the spy thriller that is the gaming worlds answer to James Bond, Metal Gear Solid. I haven't played the original version of the game before since I first played the GameCube remake, The Twin Snakes and that was apparently several years ago. Same story, but since I've been watching a lot of Escape from New York since then I think I get what was the inspiration. Funny how it came closer in the sequel Escape from L.A. to line up with this games story and it was released almost at the same time.
So this remaster, works fine. The graphics are a bit dated and I'm more inclined to say that the GameCube version is probably better... or rather they are better, I can actually see the faces of everyone. Not only better graphics, but I actually like the reading from the voice actors better in Twin Snakes. In this Colonel Cambell just threatens Snake to do it, almost screaming at him. In Twin Snakes it's a bit more diplomatic making it feel like I'm caring for the old man so that when he tells me about his niece or how he is getting sidelines by the higher ups, I feel he is as lost as I am. And then we have Cam Clarke hamming it up and it's glorious. And at least the GameCube version have their real names since the original pretty much uses aliases for all except David Hayter.
Still interesting to play it. I recall people saying that by taking later improvements from Metal Gear Solid 2 the game become too easy in Twin Snakes and I can believe it. I had a hard time getting out of the first area. I tried the Japanese special version which had a very easy mode which consisted of an assault rifle with unlimited ammo which got me through the first area and into the base, but I went back to the original game. So I actually played more as a spy avoiding confrontation since I didn't have any weapons, and then I had to "level up" my stats after every boss (meaning I got more health and could carry more ammo). Of course, the Twin Snakes makes the fight with Ocelot a bit more realistic compared to running back and forth in the room trying to get a shoot at him.
Overall, it works fine for me, don't know if the jank in movements is due to lowered frames per second or if it was the original game. And for a on the go experience I might play it more often... but the GameCube game will probably be a better version, if they don't release it on the Master Collection vol. 2. Would love that of course and maybe I can finally get rid of one GameCube game. At this pace my PS3 collection have a higher chance of getting stored away than the Nintendo game.
